European Commission report favorable for Serbia – Progress made, plenty remains to be done

Serbia has been assessed as having made significant progress in many areas in the report by the European Commission for 2016, it was said at the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia (CCIS) at the presentation of the report.

The report shows that Serbia has achieved success in the macroeconomic stability, stimulation of economic growth, as well as reforms of the public administration, but that it still needs to strengthen the rule of law and be more dedicated to fighting corruption.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Michael Davenport, said that Serbia had started carrying out the reforms ambitiously and that they had already produced results, but that they needed to be even more solid. He said that Serbia was determined to achieve the strategic goal it had set, namely, European integration, and added that the CCIS played a great role to that end with its daily talks with businessmen about each chapter.

– We are impressed with the determination of everyone in Serbia who's engaged in this endeavor. Serbia's dedication and determination regarding the EU accession is obvious – Davenport emphasized and reminded that the EU was the biggest donor in Serbia and that 65% of the country's trade was with European countries.

He announced that the EU would invest an additional EUR 1.5 million in various areas in the next period.

According to him, there's still a great potential in Serbia in the private sector, as well as potential for foreign investments, but the business climate needs to improve in order for the companies to improve their operations.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Bruxelles

Privredna komora Srbije

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

European Commission report

CCIS

macroeconomic stability

economic growth

public administration reform

fight against corruption

EU Delegation to Serbia

Michael Davenport